This June marks the 40th anniversary of Pride in Toronto, originally established as a response to overt queer oppression in the form of bathhouse raids predominantly targeting gay men. In some ways, 40 years may seem like a long time – but in the grand scheme of our collective work to advance equity, it’s truly the blink of an eye.
From our earliest days, Women’s College Hospital has been committed to creating a healthier, more equitable world for everyone. Although there is still much more work to be done, we know that the collective efforts of many are exactly what put revolutionary change into action. When we stay true to our values – Equity, Courage, Collaboration, Quality and People – we can effect real and lasting change.
For the second year in a row, our Pride celebrations at Women’s College will look a little bit different. While we can’t yet gather together to enjoy sunshine, food and good company, we must not let our physical distance get in the way of our celebration, reflection, activism and advocacy. This month, and every month, we are proud to embody the spirit of Pride within our walls and in our work to advance health equity for all.
Through strong partnerships and collaboration, we are also happy to extend this work out into our community. We are pleased to be partnering with Pride Toronto again this year and look forward to sharing more updates about Pride activities in the weeks to come. We are also delighted to be the LCBO’s Equity Partner for their upcoming point-of-sale fundraising campaign.
We will be sharing further activities and opportunities to celebrate Pride at Women’s College throughout the month, so please keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved and show your Pride!